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I have some opinions regarding that comments delivered by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz during the New York major last eight. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and sports often encourage nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

Everyone love a narrative, myself included. But come on. Suppose Fritz had beaten the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the next round, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). He stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he in fact liked his path, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final who else sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

The American star's second serve the only thing between her and sustained success

Fritz, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering this week’s year-end championships and has won his last six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class serve and concussive strength on both forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, though, he is frequently helpless. The last several years has seen the interesting emergence of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter men. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and playing a soft shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a pretty severe restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a number of significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and held the position. But the next leap, competing against and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a aging Serbian, is the highest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of American men winning grand slams when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task too little.

The American star made a personal best run to the All England Club last four in July.

Fritz’s performance in that exact quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the very end, when the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair looked well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued break point after break point, prolonging the streak to the point of frustration. When he eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a terrible service game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and forced him to expend excessive energy to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, just a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite ironclad evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of Djokovic, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never especially seem like he believed he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has acquired sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, more so than virtually everyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, willing to not just express his emotions or the tactic he believed decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American informed an interviewer in June of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is actually highly improbable for all other players. {